The fruit for the 2016 Vat 9 Shiraz was sourced from Tyrrells super premium vineyards on the Ashmans property with an average vine age of 50 years. Predominately from the Weinkeller and Short Flat vineyards. Winemaking The blocks were all hand picked and sorted in the vineyard before arriving at the winery. All the fruit was then destemmed but not crushed, followed by fermentation in traditional open top concrete vats. After fermentation the wiens were matured in newer 2700L French oak casks for ten months.

A wonderful example of Hunter Shiraz. Ripe berries and spice with a touch of leather on the nose and a beautifully integrated palate showing plenty of juicy fruit flavour in a subtle well balanced style.

McWilliam's Mount Pleasant Maurice O'Shea Shiraz continues lead the pack of great Hunter Valley Shiraz. A lovely return to old form, this Maurice has a striking purple hue to it in the glass. To the nose aromas of liquorice and spice with hints of cedar will beguile. Layers of complex flavours dance across the palate including savoury, spicy dark fruits like dark plums and cherries. A classic of classics.

Classic South Australian on the nose with wild with aromas of dark berries, ripe blood plans and exotic spice. The palate is supple and fruit driven with a mouth-filling burst of spicy, dark berry fruit flavours wrapped in fine tannins before a bright, lifted finish.

Graveyard Vineyard is the jewel in the Brokenwood crown, responsible for the company's flagship wines. The vineyard was planted with Shiraz vines in 1970 - extremely heavy clay soils, yields are low, but fruit flavour is intense through employment of meticulous vinification techniques. Strong lifted aromas of sweet earth and dark cherry greet the olfactory senses. Oak features, but will soften and integrate given some patience. Initial flavours of dark chocolate and ripe plums are beautifully lashed to ripe tannins lending an edge of cedar.

A concentrated and complex wine with dark choclate, liquorice and spice aromas and flavours accentuated by nutty oak from barrel maturation.

This is a rich red wine displaying layers of red and blue fruits that are well complemented by sweetness ands tructure from the oak barrels. The presence of fine tannins and spicy notes contributes to the seamless palate, delivering a wine of greater character, intensity and balance. The wine is ready for immediate drinking but also has excellent potential for careful cellaring up to 10+ years.

The colour is dark crimson. It has aromas of lifted red and blue berry and oak spice. It is elegantly structured with dark plum and red fruits with a hint of blueberry, integrated oak carried by silky tannins and supple acidity.

The palate is expansive and gently fruity, with excellent fruit clarity and softness. Overall, the wine is beautifully lemony and full-flavoured. Multi-vineyard sourcing, including from the Soldier Settler vineyard in the Broke Fordwich subregion. Hand-picked fruit, cool-ferment and early bottling to preserve freshness. Alcohol: 11.5%. Closure: screwcap. Date tasted: Feb 2024. Drink: 2024-2029. Price: $48. Rating: 96/100.

The warm and dry 2017 vintage allowed perfectly ripe fruit to be harvested. The red plum and black cherry aromas lead to a fruit driven and softly textured palate with background vanillin and spice from oak barrel maturation.